Retos · Jan 28, 2026
Effectiveness of aquatic therapy on physical functional impairment in knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis study
By Trisnowiyanto B, Andriani I, Hendrik H
Introduction: Pain, reduced range of motion, and limited physical function are clinical signs of osteoarthritis (OA), a consequence of joint cartilage damage. OA is one of the main causes of disorders in older people. OA becomes more common with increasing age and a sedentary lifestyle. Aquatic therapy utilizes the physical properties of water. Objective: This study compared the effects of aquatic therapy and land-based physiotherapy activities on osteoarthritis patients' pain, joint stiffness, range of motion, and reduced physical function. Methodology: The study employed a meta-analysis, organized according to the PICO model framework. Articles were obtained from ScienceDirect and PubMed databases using keywords such as "aquatic therapy" OR "water exercises" OR "hydrotherapy" AND 'osteoarthritis' AND "randomized controlled trial". The data was examined using Review Manager 5.3. Results: This meta-analysis study comprised eight articles and 423 samples from various countries. In individuals with osteoarthritis, aquatic therapy was found to significantly improve joint stiffness (SMD = -0.39; 95% CI = -0.77 to -0.01; p=0.05) and pain levels (SMD = -0.61; 95% CI = -0.85 to -0.36; p<0.001). Joint range of motion can also be increased by aquatic therapy (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI = -0.19 to -0.72; p=0.25), and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis (SMD = -0.23; 95% CI = -0.78 to -0.33; p=0.42). Discussion: This meta-analysis is consistent with previous research, where water therapy has an improving effect on impaired physical function. Conclusion: Compared with land-based physiotherapy exercises, aquatic therapy helps osteoarthritis patients overcome impaired physical function.